Students Stranded In UK

Ghanaian scholarship holders in the United Kingdom (UK) are stranded in that country, with some sleeping in buses and libraries, DAILY GUIDE has gathered.

The paper learnt that landlords had ejected hundreds of Ghanaian students on Ghana Educational Trust (GETFund) scholarship from their apartments due to government’s inability to remit them for two semesters.

A source in London told DAILY GUIDE that government had failed to disburse funds to the stranded students to pay their tuition fees and allowance because they are perceived to be sympathizers of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

According to reports, the development is causing tension among the students.

Those who receive their remittances regularly were directly selected by the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), and some of them have to depend on their compatriots for ration.

The source said the stranded students cannot secure jobs to sustain themselves in the UK because of the recession which has affected the job market.

The students have had to borrow money to buy their tickets to return to Ghana following a promise by GETFund authorities to refund the loans.

However, these students have not received their monies after arriving in the country for the past six months.

A GETFund source alleged that a top official was playing the tribal card with the award of scholarships to Ghanaian students, noting that people bearing Akan and Ewe names are the main targets.

Attempts to talk to the officer in charge of scholarships in the UK, Wilhelmina Asamoah proved futile as she ignored most calls due to the unbearable pressure.

Meanwhile government last week spent a whopping GH¢160million to sponsor some selected children of NDC cronies to study medicine in Cuba.

Reports said the Vice President, John Mahama brokered the deal between Ghana and Cuba and facilitated the enrolment of the 250-student delegation into various medical schools in Cuba.

The 250 students were said to have left the country on Monday, May 21 to Cuba to begin their training.

Even though Ghana would foot the whole bill for the six-year duration, a section of the media reported that Mr. Mahama had brokered a Cuba Government Scholarship deal for some 250 Ghanaian students to study medicine in various institutions.